Blinn College’s cheer and dance teams knew they couldn’t repeat as national champions without improving.
So even after they both won the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championships in 2014, both squads went work on new routines, even more challenging than those they used to win the 2014 national titles.
Earlier this month, that hard work paid off, as they each captured their second consecutive championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.
“We knew that we had to come back even better than the year before,” said Courtney Prinzel (Atascocita), a dance team captain. “I always gave 110 percent so that everyone else on the team would see that and do the same.”
Prinzel and Bailee LeCompte (League City), sophomore dance captains, were tasked with building team cameraderie. LeCompte said that the closeness of the team helped the second championship taste even sweeter.
Cheer 2015 Champions (click image for larger view)
Just before competition at nationals, dance coach Sarah Flisowski tried a tactic that reminded the team to not rest on winning the year before.
“Coach took away our national championship rings right before competition and told us to go out there and get another one,” LeCompte said. “After that, I said I want my ring back and another one.”
Cheer was in the same situation. The sophomores knew what to expect at nationals, but had to prepare the freshman class.
“Sophomore year was a lot more exciting,” said Dena Robison (Needville). “There is just more expectation for the veteran cheerleaders to return and do well at nationals.”
Dance 2015 Champions (click image for larger view)
Marissa Lemmons (Tomball) said she had far fewer nerves at nationals as a sophomore, and credited cheer coach Michael Brewster.
“Without our coach, we would not have been able to have success,” Lemmons said. “He is a very emotional coach, so he really connects with us throughout the year.”
Prinzel is a dance major and would like to become a dance teacher while LeCompte is hoping to recover from knee surgery and dance at Stephen F. Austin State University next year. Cheerleaders Robison and Lemmons could both return to Blinn to cheer for another year.
Blinn has competed in intercollegiate athletics since 1903 and captured 32 NJCAA national championships since 1987. For more information, visit: www.buccaneersports.com.
